Friends of mine recently lost a large amount of money they had counted on for retirement. That retirement included some very fine living, travel, the best accomodations, and in general life lived in the top 3-4% income group in this country. They were devastated, depressed, angry and at a loss at how to proceed. Needless to say they owned  outright a  very valuable property, had a guaranteed lifetime annual retirement pension well up in the 6 figure bracket and for most people had a lovely and comfortable life to look forward to.

        Abraham Maslow wrote extensively about the ‘hierarchy of needs’.He spoke of the basic and important difference between needs and wants inferring that for many of us our wants, subtlely over time, change into needs ie – the Lexus not the Chevy - you get the picture. In reality millions of people throughout the world would give their eye teeth for just a fraction of what my friends had and be ever grateful.

      In these times of financial volatility many have lost a great deal and have been reduced to living life on,in some cases,a rather threadbare ‘needs’ existence.For those who are used to the privileged life this shock , if seen with wisdom, brings with it a different understanding and even  gratitude. It has been said that often God gives us what we need not necessarily what we want.